Ambulatory reciprocator



Oct. 21, 1952 c.' D. DENISON ,5

AMBULATORY RECIPROCATOR Filed March 30, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 21, 1952 c. D. DENISON 2,614,609

AM-BULATOR'Y RECIPROCATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Marsh 30, 1950 Oct. 21; 1952 c. D, BENS N 2,614,609

AMBULATORY RECIPROCATOR Filed March so, 1950 4 Sheet-Sheet 4 In 0 u I Q *0 3 k sn'i' K I 0 n- W k I INVENTOR- I T Cedric D. Derrl-son hating arm and leg movements.

Patented Oct. 21, 1952 AMBULATORY REciPRocArroR' i t ls i t itrii lia. APPlicatiOn'March so, 1950, swarm; 2 1 was 1 55521321.

o This invention relates to an ambulatory reciprocator adapted to simulate arm and leg movements in walking. I r

The apparatus is designed both to reestablish proper walking including muscular coordination and balance after illness or acciden, and to teach walking coordination and balance tothose who have never achieved normal walking ability. For example, in cerebral palsy it has been found that besides the difficulties in muscular coordination and ous system, some of the difficulty in walking results from never havinglearned proper walking habits, it being very difiicult to learn such habits when special disabilities make standing and any type of self-locomotion uncertain. The ambulatory reciprocator meets-thisproblem'by prothe user, an obstacle-free for properly coordi- As the user becomes more proficienty'a non-rigid support is provided whichpermrts practice in the balance, Weight shifting, sway and even foot lifting of normal walking, still without the obstaclesof a normal walking course. r a I I The device may -'also"'be--used 'to' strengthen weak muscles by exercise, as neededin inrantile paralysis. Walking exercise is possible even when legs are in braces and-cannot be bent. The

length of movement of viding support to practice course, and means stride when desired and 1 means are provided whereby the walking movements can be introduced without the user furnishing the motive power for the device himself.- The apparatus may be adjusted to accommodatedifierent'size users and is designed-to o erate easily soth'at normal strength is not required for self-operation and frequent practice is encouraged.

'- The 'means for coordinating arm andleg movements which is a and the accompanying drawings in which:

balance, due to injury to the nerv arms and legs can'be' ad- I jus'ted to permitv a gradual development toxfull I main feature'of this in-' ventioncomp'rises a system'iof loops, one loo'p arm to move in opposite coordinating the left walking F re id lcevai n o anam i l q tfi reciprocatorwapparatus, constructed in accordance with this-invention." Figure 2 is a topplan view of the, side rails and cross pieces, the base being dotted in.

Figure-31s a f ragmentary end elevation of certain ofthe parts of. Figure 2 and of the upper pulley brackets Figure 4 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of thesystem for coordinating arm and leg movements in accordancewith this invention.

; Figure 5 is-an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus with the uprights and ertical loops broken awayabovethe base; I Figure fiais, an enlarged partial sectional view taken along-the: lines 6-6 of Figure 5. a

I Figure 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along thelines 'l-1 of Figure 5. a Figure 8 is a partial sectional view taken along thellines 8-.-8 of. Figure 5. 1

Figure 9 is a partial sectional view taken along the. line 9-9 f-Figure 5; t

Figure 10 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of,- the, right hand grip.

base; and walls constitutingparallel ways. In vthe-corners of the base are mounted uprights-d and 9 and in the rear corners uprights it and ,l l.

'l'he left'hand uprights 8 and itl and the right-j hand,- uprights 9 -;an d H are connected by side ,Figures 2; and, 5 the-side, rails bow outwardly frorn. their ends ybeyond the side walls of ,the flbase in'order to. rovide ample room forthe .user of,theapparatus. Thegside walls should, of feourse,; be at such a height as to insure the safety of the user of the'apparatusand the base, of such width as, to preclude any poSSibility of tippin t app atus y fal in =-a ainst th r l -c ,As best se'n in Figure 3 forward and rear cross pieces-l4 and l4' are swingingly mounted upon bolts M-on theuprights 9 and H and engage adjacenttheir ireeends bolts It in recesses ll. Toententhe apparatus a cross iece may be liftedupwardly out of engagement with its bolt rails Hand; l 3,.respectively, As-bestj seen in ropes 2| and 2| which extend around left and right pairs of upper pulleys 22 and' 22'. at the level of the hand grips and left and right pairs of lower pulleys 23 and 23' at thefiodrlevel"to form a pair of vertical loops. The upperpulleysi 22 and 22' are carried by means of brackets 24,

as best seen in Figures 1 and 8. These u perbrackets are mounted on the uprights and are adjustable up and down therealongby means of clamping screws asbest' shown in Figure 3. The level of the handgrips' can thus be-conveniently adj usted' to vary-ingheights according to the height of thehsei. The means for adjusting-the eifective lengths of-ropes-2| and2l' to compensate for raising or loweringthe upper pulleys 22 and22' will'b'e hereinafter described.

Again referring to Figure 4'it will be seen that corresponding to th'e left-and -right hand grips l8 and I9 are left'and-righ't foot skis'26an'd- 21 mounted for longitudinal reciprocation below the hand grips. It will'be-"ob'served that the ropes 2| and 2| extend 'arouncl'the lower= pulleys 23 and 23' and connect withthe-corresp'onding foot skis 26 and 21. Furtherit will be seen thatthe corresponding hand grip and foot ski are so attached to the ropesthat when, for example, the right hand grip l9is-in'aforward position, the right foot ski 21 in its rear position-and as indicated by the arrows; when the right foot ski 21 is moved forward-1y the righthand grip l9 will move rearwardly, asis normallythecase with the corresponding leg and arm in walking. The same is true on the left side. I

Two horizontal pulleys,- a-forward 'one' 28 and a rear one 29 are mounted between the lower vertical pulleys 23 and 23. Arope 30 extends around these pulleystoforrh-a-horizontal loop and it is engaged-by thefoot -skis." As bestseen in Figure 4,the foot-skisengagethe rope 38 so that whenthe left'fbct'ski 28' in its forward position the right foot ski- 21 will be inits rear position,- and reverselypas is the normal casein walking. As aresu'lt of thecoordination-pr me foot skis by means of the hcrizontal' rope 30 and pulleys 28 and 29,-the-'hand-grips are also coordinated so that when the-righthand grip '18 moves rearwardly, the left hand grip l8 will move forwardly, as the arrows indicate; Thus the movement of the hand grip an'd foot sk'is' may be made to correspond to the movement-of arms and legs in normal walking.-

Referring now to Figures '5 and 8, it will be seen that the foot skis inclu'de'footplates 3|, sides 32 and straps 33 for confining the shoeof a user. The opposite sides 32 of each ski curve inwardly at the rear toprovideback walls 34 for the heels of the shoes. A- hor izont'al flange 35 extends rearwardly from the bottom-of each ba'ck wall 34 and rests on one of the'foo't plates 3|. A back clamping bolt 35 passes through each'back flange 35 and through a transverse slot 31in the foot plate, Figure 5, to'enga'ge a square nut 38 as best seen in Figure 6.

The forward ends of sides 32 have flanges 33 extending inwardly and resting on the foot plates 3|. Front clamping bolts 40 pass through the flanges 39 and transverse slots 4| in the foot plates, Figure 5, to engage square nuts 42, as shown in Figure '7. As will be readily understood, the square nuts 38 and 42 ride in channels 43 and 44 beneath the slots 31 and 4|, the nuts 38 and 42 being prevented from turning by the "channel walls as shown iii-Figures 6 and 7.

Thefro'nt ehdof each foot plate 3| has a pull rope 45 in a hole 46, Figure 5, which may be used to operate the apparatus as will be. hereinafterdescribed. The ropes 45 pass through vertical slots in the forward wall 5 of the base of the apparatus: Pulleys 41 are mounted on the forwardwall 5 by means of hood brackets 48, extending into the apparatus and having cutturne'd'fianges 48' on either side of the slot bolted on the outside of the forward wall. The pulleys guide the pull-ropes-through the slots with little friction. As showninFigure 1, the ropes may have at their outer endshandles 49 for pulling the ropes.

As best seen in Figure 5, at the forward and rear ends of the foot plates 3|, at the side edges, are mounted horizontal rollers 50. The ,outer horizontal rollers-ride-onthe side walls 3 and 4 and the inner horizontal rollers ride on a central partition:5 I Figures 5 and 9. Referring to Figure 8, verticalrollers 52 are 'carried by flanges 53 depending from the side edges of the foot-plates 3| at the front andrear, and roll on the floor 1 of the base. Thus the foot skis can be reciprocated without an undesirably great energy expenditure, Also it will be noted that the skis can be lifted off thefioor somewhat'without interfering with-the operation of the apparatus. This might be desirable, particularly for users who alreadypossessed walking habits and might naturallytend to-lift their feet.

, The side edges of each ski project outwardly in the-middle to -formside wlngs 54 which carry upstanding rope clamps 55,Figures 5, 8 and 9, for attaching the skis to the ropes 2|, 2| and 30 at anyv desired position therealong. It will be seen in Figures 5 and 8 that-the inner rope clamp 55 ,of theleft ski 26serves to retain both ends of the horizontal rope 30-. These clamps 5'5 aresimilar inoperation to that shown in Figure 11, but they are rectangular with therope or ropes passingthrough a-longdimension'of the clamp As a further adjustment for the skis, stops 58 are provided-at'the rear thereof to limit the rearward travel of the-skis. These stops are confined transversely infioor channels 51 to positions in line with the centers of the rear edges of the footplates of the skis, but are slidable longitudinally to adjust the length of ski movement, Figure 5. Arod 58 is inserted through openings 59 insidewane; and 4 one of the openings 38in" the center parents 5| and through seem-nest l' ir'i'th'e stops to'lo'ck the 'sto'iis in position. I I

The'low'er' vertical pullys"23 and 23" can be seen-m Figure 8 to be heldby meanso-f bolts"62 attached to the u er-asked 63 of the pulleys. The'b'o'lts'pa'ss' thrdu'gh the curved" strips form'- ing'sock'etsfwithth'e' walls 3; 4, 5,8 and through the uprightscontained inthesockets, anchoring them therein; Theboltsare'fastened to'the' forward and rearwalls 5 and 6, Figuress-and 8. Figure- 9 shows thehorizontal' pulleys 28 and 29 mounted in slo'ts 65 in the center parti'tion'5l by means oJfbrackets 65; Right angle brackets 67 areemployd waste-n the floor to-the end walls '5 and 6' as shown brackets: 68 Connectthe side and end 'w'alls as shown in Figure encl'v'lalls and centerpartition 51.

l A- hip stabilizer shownin the .ropeQFigure 11.

the cylinder-'16 and a pair of screws82'hold Tightening clamp screw I the rope.

Therope ends are 1 6 sothat'the ,hand'grip tends to maintain a In self -operation of ropes 45 may be unfastened to provide free move- 'm'ent of "the skis.

finish additional the' gskis'movedfto their most open position with the'strap's 33 loose orremoved from one side. -The cross piece M'fl'is aii'dfreplac'ed and, 'theskis being approximately alongsicle each other,

- j between the sides of the skis, the straps fastened i and the'sides clamped in proper position by s means of clamping bolts 5131' and are of such length as to to be included between the sides. ma'y theribe placed at the desired travel of the skis and hand grips, and fixedin *place by means of rod 58 inserted throughopen'ings 59, 60 and BI.

- ..;If=desired,- the hip :on the central. partition 5.! in the .by means of bolt 10 through one 111; The belt is then properly adjusted .to' ;insure-flexion and .fforv cans. of clamp screws sturgeon in Figures- 8 and 9, and

and brackets .68 connect the bymeans of a bolt 10in depending onathe 'I3,-slidable onthe rod'and adapted, to be clamped at "any suitable levelby clamp 14, Figures. A

' belt 15. is attached, to the plate; and is intended to, position the hips andv stabilize them where -;thisis desirabla, 1 l L Y Theyconstruction of the right hand grip I9 is shown inFigures 10, Hand 12, the left hand 16 having in its forend two halfcylinder I loosely into the cylinder 16. The block-I1 ha twomholes 19 vertically spaced through which therope 2| passes, Figure 12 The half blocks .18, 1'8 have vertically spaced arc grooves 30 offradius less thanthat of A screw. 8| retains block ll 18' to the cylinder 16. v 83 serves to pull the left half of .block' I8 toward the right half 18', t pinch Retainers are provided to'hold the ends of the ropes as shown in Figures 1 and 8.

crossed within the cylinder the right half] block.

horizontal orientation, as shown in Figure 10.

the apparatus, the pull Before the user enters the apparatus the stops 56 maybe removed-to furfo'otroom and the sides 32 of lifted to admit the user the users feet are placed 36 and 40. The slots permit braces The stops 56 position allowing the stabilizer 69 may be'fixed proper position of the openings extension of the hip joints and associatedcmuscles and in cooperation with the wfoot skis-ethe,desired position of rotation and ,-j ;abduction;-of feet and-legs, as well as to provide s ppo t..;-. r

1 The hand grips .18 and I9 may then be adjusted ,to the properllevel by loosening the tightening scr ews ,-3 3 onthe gripsand slackening the ropes upwardadjus'trnent and by raising or lowerthepulleys 22v and 22' 4 he. ropesare' then taken in and clamped by 83. To adjust the posito correspond tofthe of 'ith'e hand rips on t e skis are' loosened,"' the grips Figures 8 and 9, in part, may be mounted on the center partition '5] "and adjusted therealong one of openings H in the partition 'or it may be removedfrom the apparatus, needs of. the user. This stabilizer includes axrod .69 mounted in base-17.2,of suitable strength, Figure 9, and a plate to the desired he gh 110f the. "skis; and 'thereabove, H *75 brought -intoproper position, and the clamps example, the left foot ski then moving rearv walking movements.- 65 left and right transversely spaced hand grips adapted for longitudinal reciprocation; spaced left and right foot skis coordinating' the right *tomove' inopposite directions and the left hand wardly due to the The left hand grip horizontal loop I8 moves forwardly and the right hand grip 19 moves rearwardlydue to the vertical loops-or ropes 21 and 21f. The left foot ski traveling rearw-ardly strikes its stop 56 at therear'edge of the'foot plate-3l and the right foot 1 ski andhand grips being interlocked-or coordinated'with the left foot ski, also stop.

This rear left food ski is then moved forwardly and theirightautomatically moves rearwardly and: thehand gripcorresponding to each. ski

moves in the opposite direction thereto in accordance with the leg and arm movements in walking and soon" alternately pushing forward one foot ski and then the other. I

-Particularly when the hip stabilizer is omitted itis possible to practice the balance and sway of normal walking since the hand grips provide a non-rigid support. This effect can be heightened further by'loosening the vertical loops-slightly. Q r 'When itis desired tooperate the device by means of the pull ropes, 45, these ropes are left sit in a'chairin front of the apparatus grasping'the handles 49. It will be noted that since the foot skis are-interlocked or coordinated, an opposition between the pull of one rope and gradual releaseof-the other rope exists whichpermits an even operation of the apparatus at any ratewhich-may be desired, it being" impossible to pull one foot ski forward without allowing the other to move rearwardly;

"It will be apparent that many modifications may be made in-the-apparatus described above in detail without departing from the invention defined in thefollowingclaims." -What is claimed as new and is desired'tobe secured by Letters Patent is: 1

'1. An ambulatory reciprocator comprising a first loop and means to support the same for alternate linear movement in 'avertical plane.

for coordinating the left leg and left arm to move' in opposite directions, a second loop and means to support the same for; alternate linear movement in a vertical plane parallel to the first loop for coordinating the right leg and "right arm to move in opposite directions, a

and a; third loop connected to and coordinating hand grip connected to the upper-part and'a foot ski connected to the lower part of each loop the movements of the first two loopsto coordinate the left leg and arm movements withthe rightleg andarm movements, whereby the right arm advances when the left leg is advanced and the right leg and left arm move rearwardly, andthe reverse alternately to simulate normal 2.In an apparatus for ambulatorytrairiing,

corresponding respectively, 'to "the left and right grips,- and adapted for alternate linear movementsconnected to and hand grip andfoot ski grip andfoot-ski to move in oppositeadirections,

longitudinally movable hand left and right foot/skis, a pair of vertical =and za horizontal looplconnected' tozandcoo'rdinating the movements,- of- :the first: .twoxloops; ;to

coordinate theq-handl grips to move s-in; opposite directions: and the foot skis: to .m-ove -in- ,alter' -nate opposite directions,.. the; loops together-1 coordinating. movements of the hand grips and foot skls to simulate normalwleg andarm-movements in walking.

: 3. ambulatory.--reciprocator:comprising;left

sand-right'hand grips, a pai-rof-vertical cable loops 1 having ,.upper and lower horizontal cable portions said upper portions; carrying said. :hand --,grips, pulleys, guiding said cable ilOOpS, right [and ileit. foot. skis connected tozsaid-;loWer:-horizonital vacable portions and: aahon'zontal' cablelloop i, connected to the vertical cable loops-.rcoordinatsing-the. left and right foot-skis to move :in'opposite directions, the 1, horizontal and vertical -.qcable loops together'coordinating the movements :of: the hand; grips andfoot, skis to simulate arm and leg movementsinwalking. I

4. An ambulatory reciprocator .comprising longitudinally movable left andright hand grips and left. and right -foot,skis,- a: pair of horizontally, spaced vertical loops and means-to support the same inparallel planes, the, loops havingupper horizontal portions carrying therhand grips and opposite lowervhorizontal portions connect- :1 ed to the foot -skis,':stops for, thexskis toadjust: the length of movement thereof, and :a,

horizontal loop having .opposite. portionscon- .nected to the footskis, 'wherebythe hand grips and foot skis are constrained to. motion inacrcordance with .normal walking .movements of ..armsand legs.

5. An; ambulatory reciprocator comprising left and' right hand i grips loops and means to support the same-in-parallel planes, providing upper horizontally extending loop 'portions carrying thehand grips andopposite lower horizontally extending; loop portions connected tothe'foot skis,-a-base hav .ing ways therein to guidethe footskis in substantially rectilinear parallel paths; rollers con- ..nected to the foot skis .-.and riding-on the base -in the movement of the -skis,,-.andv.a horizontal loop and means to support the same to provide iopposite loop portions connectedato the foot skis, the horizontal and vertical loops-coordinating the foot skis and handqgrips to: move-in accordance with .normal walking movements .of

legs and arms.

6. The reciprocator of claim 5 includingpull ropes connected with said footskis to be pulled alternately to produce movementslof the. hand grips and foot skis correspondingto arm andleg movements in normal walking.

'7. An ambulatory reciprocator comprisinglongitudinally movable left and righthandgrips and left and right foot skis, a pair of vertical loops and means to support the same in parallelplanes providing upper horizontally extendingportions connected with the hand grips and opposite lower horizontally extending, portions .-..connected with the foot skis, a floor and side wallsfor guid with the foot,- skis and-riding "in said wayspanda 8..aAn-: ambulatory reciprocator, comprisinggleit nandright. handgrips and deftand right foot skis, ::a ::pair :of vertical: cablei:loops, -;-a i-pair\.z*of= upper pulleys in substantially the samehorizontal plane ;and a ppair of. "lower pulleys :in"substantially-the samehorizontal plane carryings each of the loops,

. the hand'grips' being connected .to. the';s'ubstantially I horizontal portion: of: each rcable-i loopz; be-

tween the upper: pulleys and \the footskisrr'being connected to the substantially horizontal; portion of .each cable loop 1 between the lowerzpulleys; the upper pulleys being vertically adjustable 'to raise and lower the-level of the :hand grips; abasethaving ways therein to guide the foot'skisin substantially rectilinear parallel paths rollers connected horizontal cable loop and means to support' -the same to provide opposite'portions connected to the foot skis to coordinate the'leftfoot ski"-.an'd hand grip-and the'right footsski and hand' grip to move in 'accordance'withnormal walking movements of arms and legs.

- 9. An ambulatory reciprocator comprising a 'base'having a floor and sidewallsand a vertical partition between the'side wal1s,"right' and left footskis, rollersconnected'with said foot skis" for riding on the floor, sidewalls and vertica1partition," horizontally disposed pulleys "in said verti- .calpartition', a horizontal cable 'loopicarriedby said pulleys having a longitudinal portion oireach side of the partition and connecting with each of the foot skis by one of the longitudinal portions of the horizontal cable loop, right andleft hand grips, right and left vertical loops and means" to support the same in parallel planes, the loops connecting respectively .the right .foot ski and hand grip and the left foot ski andhandgrip, the horizontal and vertical cable loops coordinating the movements of the foot skis andihandgrips to .icorrespondtothe movements of legs andarmsin walking.

10. An .ambulatoryreciprocator comprising ,a basehaving-afioor-and side wa1ls,iand a vertical partition between the side walls, rightlandileft --foot skis, horizontal and'vertical rollers connected .with said foot skis for: riding; on the-floor -side walls and partition, t-a pair 1 of longitudinally r spaced 1 horizontal pulleys inesaidx vertical, partition, a horizontal cable .loop carried .by :said

pulleys "having a longitudinal loop i portion :extending along vthepartition oneach sideeand 1 connecting with each of the foot. skistby one of the longitudinal-loop portionsrightand left hand grips, right, and 'left pairsrof uprights adjacent the .side 'walls of the.=base, ,.a 1 pulleyaslidably mounted on each upright-bright andileft vertical ..cable2loops extending-around the rightxandileft pairs .of pulleys respectively;and each loop having an upperportion connecting with :one'lof-Ithe hand grips: and a lower. v portion iconnectingzwith one" of 1 the foot skis 1 to coordinate the: movements of the hand grips and foot skis to 'simulate =walkin 11. An ambulatory reciprocatoricomprising aa base having a floor and side walls, and a -vertical partition between the side walls, right and left foot skis, horizontal and vertical"rollers-connected with said footskis for riding on the flooryside Walls and partition, a pair of spaced,'horizonta1ly disposed pulleys in said vertical partition, a hori- "zontalloop carriedby said pulleys/having portions of the loop extending along ea'ch side' of the partition and being connected to the foot'skisito move skis, in opposite directions-along the partition, right and left handsgrip's, right and"le'f t upper pulley pairs in substantially the same horizontal plane, right and left lower pulley pairs in substantially the same horizontal plane, a right vertical 100p passing around the right upper .pulley pair and connecting with the right hand grip between the r1ghtupper pair and passing around the right lower pulley pair and connecting with the right foot ski therebetween, a left vertical loop passing around the left upper pulley pair and connecting with the left hand grip therebetween and passing around the left'lower pulley pair and connecting with the left foot ski therebetween, whereby the hand grips and foot skis are free to reciprocate in a substantially horizontal plane and are coordinated in their movement to simulate the arm and leg movements of walking.

12. An ambulatory reciprocator comprising left and right hand grips and left and right foot skis,

a pair of vertical loops and means to support the same in parallel planes, one of said loops being connected to each of the foot skis and a horizontal loop and means to support the same, said horizontal loop being connected to the foot skis and interlocking the'vertical loops and the left I hand grip andfo'ot ski with the right hand grip and foot ski, and pullropes connected to the foot skis, the horizontal loop coordinating the movement of the foot skis whereby smooth motion may be imparted to the foot skis and hand grips by the pull ropes in accordance with leg and arm movements in walking.

13. An ambulatory reciprocator apparatus comprising left and rightpairs of upper and lower pulleys, the left and right pairs of upper pulleys and the left and right pairs of lower and left foot skis connected to the right and left lower loop portions, a third loop connected to the foot skis and means to support the said third loop, the third loop interlocking the right and left foot skis and hand grips to simulate walking movements of legs and arms, the upper loop portions providing a semi-rigid support for the hand grips whereby the balance and sway of walking may be experienced in the use of the apparatus.

- CEDRIC D. DENISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,362,446 Carter Nov. 14, 1944 2,433,969 Wood Jan. 6, 1948 2,459,066 Duke Jan. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 331,825 Great Britain 7 July 8, 1930 

